Find the right home buying scheme for you

Compare home buying schemes across the UK, from low deposits and equity loans to cash bonuses and shared ownership. See which are open, who can apply and how each one helps you buy.

Why use a home buying scheme?

A lower price

Buying schemes can lower the price you pay for a home. First Homes gives 30% to 50% off some new-build homes in England, and Right to Buy gives council tenants a discount.

Help with your deposit

Buying schemes mean you need less money upfront. Equity loans, cash bonuses and shared ownership reduce what you must save. Your First Home (not yet open) will pair a 2.5% deposit with a 20% equity loan, and the Lifetime ISA adds a 25% bonus.

Better access to mortgages

Buying schemes can help you get a mortgage with a small deposit or a lower rate. The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme accepts a 5% deposit, and Own New Rate Reducer can bring rates below 1%.

Schemes for first-time buyers only

These are first-time buyer schemes and can’t be used if you’ve ever owned a property before.

First Homes

Open to applicants in England

Get 30% to 50% off some new-build homes if you are a local first-time buyer or key worker with a household income of £80,000 or less (£90,000 in London). The discount stays with the home, so later buyers may get it too.

More about the First Homes scheme

Lifetime ISA

Open to applicants in the UK

Save up to £4,000 a year and the government adds a 25% bonus, up to £1,000 a year, if you buy a home worth £450,000 or less. You can use the money for retirement instead, and the scheme is expected to close in 2028.

More about the Lifetime ISA

First-Time Buyer ISA

Announced but not yet open to applicants in the UK

The government will replace the Lifetime ISA with a similar First-Time Buyer ISA, but you won’t be able to use the savings for retirement. We’ll add price caps and the government’s contribution when they are released.

More about the First-Time Buyer ISA

Your First Home scheme

Announced but not yet open to applicants in England

Announced in September 2026, the scheme will let first-time buyers buy a wide range of new-build homes with a 2.5% deposit and a 20% government-backed equity loan. We’ll update this page and our article on Your First Home when more details are released.

More about Your First Home scheme

Schemes for first-time buyers and home movers

These buying schemes can be used by first-time buyers and people who already own a home.

Shared Ownership

Open to applicants in England

Buy a share of a home, usually 10% to 75%, and pay rent on the rest. Your household income must be £80,000 or less (£90,000 in London), and you usually need a deposit of 5% to 10% of the share you buy. You can buy more of your home later.

More about Shared Ownership

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme (also known as Freedom to Buy)

Open to applicants in the UK

Taking-part lenders accept a 5% deposit, with the government as guarantor. The home must cost £600,000 or less and you must pass affordability checks. The scheme became permanent in 2025.

More about the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme

New Build Boost

Open to applicants in England and Wales

First-time buyers and existing homeowners with a deposit of at least 5% get a 15% interest-free equity loan from Gen H to top up their deposit. You can buy any new-build home by Persimmon Homes or Charles Church, or a selection by Lovell Homes.

More about New Build Boost

Own New Rate Reducer

Open to applicants in the UK

A 5% housebuilder incentive makes your monthly mortgage repayments cheaper, with a rate that can drop below 1% and be fixed for 2 or 5 years. First-time buyers and existing homeowners can use it. Availability depends on the housebuilder, development and plot, and you must use a taking-part lender.

More about Own New Rate Reducer

Looking for a Shared Ownership home?

We've got thousands to choose from. Simply filter your search by area, number of bedrooms, price and property type.

Find Shared Ownership homes

Schemes for tenants

These buying schemes help tenants own all or part of the home they live in.

Right to Buy

Open to applicants in England

Council tenants and some social housing tenants can buy their home at a heavily discounted price. The discount is the lower of 70% of the property value or the regional maximum, which ranges from £16,000 to £38,000.

More about Right to Buy

Right to Acquire

Open to applicants in England

Qualifying housing association tenants get a discount of £9,000 to £16,000 on their home, depending on where it is. The home must have been built or bought by a housing association, or transferred from a council to one, after 31 March 1997.

More about Right to Acquire

Right to Shared Ownership

Open to applicants in England

Some social and affordable housing tenants can buy 10% to 75% of their home and keep paying rent on the rest. You can pay with a mortgage or savings, household income caps apply, and you can buy more shares later.

More about Right to Shared Ownership

Rent to Buy

Open to applicants in England

Rent a home usually 20% below the market rate while you save for a deposit. Only homes that take part in the scheme offer the discount. London has its own scheme, called London Living Rent.

More about Rent to Buy

Find a new-build home

Explore our latest new-build homes while we get our Your First Home tools ready. Your first home could be closer than you think.

Search new homes for sale

Schemes for specific groups

These buying schemes are designed to help movers with specific circumstances.

HOLD

Open to applicants in England

HOLD (Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities) lets people with a long-term disability buy 10% to 75% of a shared ownership home and pay rent on the rest. If no suitable home is available, you can ask to use HOLD on an open-market home. Household income must be £80,000 or less (£90,000 in London). You can buy a bigger share later.

More about HOLD

Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO)

Open to applicants in England

Older Persons Shared Ownership allows people aged 55 and over to buy between 10% and 75% of a shared ownership home and continue paying rent on the rest. As well as an age restriction, a buyer’s household income must be £80,000 or less (£90,000 if the property is in London). Buyers can purchase more of their home when they’re financially able.

More about Older Persons Shared Ownership

Forces Help to Buy

Open to applicants in the UK

Armed Forces personnel in the UK, with some exceptions, can borrow up to 50% of their salary towards a home, to a maximum of £25,000. The loan is interest-free, lasts up to 10 years and is repaid directly from your wages.

More about Forces Help to Buy

Can you use more than one buying scheme?

It’s not normally possible to combine more than one buying scheme. For example, you can’t use the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme to buy a shared ownership property. The exception to this rule is the Lifetime ISA. The money saved in a Lifetime ISA can be used in conjunction with several schemes, including shared ownership, First Homes, Own New Rate Reducer and New Build Boost.

Schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

These schemes are only for buyers in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

First Homes Fund

Open to applicants in Scotland

First-time buyers can get up to £10,000 towards a home worth £300,000 or less, in return for a Scottish Government stake in the home. You can buy the stake while you live there or repay it when you sell.

More about the First Homes Fund

New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE)

Open to applicants in Scotland

First-time buyers, some people who have owned a home before and priority access groups can buy 60% to 80% of a new-build home from a housing association or local council. The Scottish Government owns the rest. You can buy its stake while you live there or repay it when you sell.

More about New Supply Shared Equity

Open Market Share Equity (OMSE)

Open to applicants in Scotland

First-time buyers and priority access groups can buy a share of a home on Scotland’s open market, typically 60% to 90%, with a mortgage from a participating lender. Price limits range from £65,000 to £585,000, depending on the area. The Scottish Government owns the rest. You can buy its stake while you live there or repay it when you sell.

More about Open Market Share Equity

Help to Buy Wales

Open to applicants in Wales

Help to Buy Wales allows buyers with a 5% deposit to purchase a new-build home, up to the value of £300,000. The Welsh Government will provide a 20% shared equity loan. Applications are open until 31 March 2027, and reserved homes must complete by 17 December 2027.

More about Help to Buy Wales

Shared Ownership Wales

Open to applicants in Wales

First-time buyers, people who can’t afford to buy on the open market and households with an income below £60,000 can buy 25% to 75% of a home and pay rent on the rest. You normally need a deposit of 5% of the share you buy, and you can buy more of your home later.

More about Shared Ownership Wales

Homebuy Wales

Open to applicants in Wales

Pay 50% to 70% of an existing home with a mortgage or savings. A local housing association gives you an interest-free equity loan for the rest, which you repay when you sell or earlier. The scheme is not available in all areas, and local eligibility rules apply.

More about Homebuy Wales

Co-Ownership

Open to applicants in Northern Ireland

Buy 50% to 90% of an existing or new-build home and pay rent on the rest, with price limits of £230,000 for new builds and £215,000 for existing homes. You may need a deposit, and you can buy more of your home later.

More about Co-Ownership

Can you use a Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish scheme if you live in England?

No. These schemes are only for applicants in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. If you live in England, look at the schemes for England or at UK-wide schemes such as the Lifetime ISA and the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme.

Closed home buying schemes in the UK

These buying schemes no longer accept new applicants. The table shows what each closed scheme offered and where it applied.

Scheme	Purpose	Where	Closed and what to use now
Help to Buy ISA	Save a deposit with a cash bonus	UK	Closed on 30 November 2019. Use a Lifetime ISA instead.
Help to Buy England	Buy a new-build home with a low deposit	England	Closed on 31 October 2022. Use Your First Home when it opens.
Deposit Unlock	Buy a new-build home with a low deposit	UK	Closed on 22 November 2024. Use Your First Home when it opens.
Help to Build	An equity loan to help pay for a self-build home	England	Closed on 31 March 2025.
Help to Buy Scotland	Buy a new-build home with a low deposit	Scotland	Closed on 5 February 2021. Use New Supply Shared Equity instead.

How to choose a buying scheme

Although the number of buying schemes can look overwhelming, not all of them will be open to you. Ask yourself these questions to work out what you can apply for:

Where do you live in the UK?
Are you a first-time buyer or an existing homeowner?
Are you an affordable housing or housing association tenant?
Is your deposit 5% or less?
Do you need a mortgage?
Are you comfortable paying a loan or rent alongside a mortgage?
Would you consider a new-build home?
Do you want to buy all of a property or just a share, and increase your share later?
Are you in a priority group?

Your answers will help you narrow down what buying schemes suit your circumstances.

Latest news on buying schemes

Read our latest articles on UK buying schemes, including new announcements and changes to existing schemes.

What is the Your First Home scheme?
15 October 2026
Your First Home is a new homebuying scheme for first-time buyers purchasing new homes in England. It hasn’t officially launched but here’s what we know so far.
What buying schemes are available for new-build homes?
22 September 2026
There are 5 main buying schemes for new-build homes in the UK - some open to all buyers, others exclusively for first-time buyers.
Should I buy a home in Bristol or Cardiff in 2026?
25 July 2026
Bristol and Cardiff sit 50 minutes apart by train but £84,000 apart in average house price. Find out which city fits your budget and lifestyle.
First-time buyer schemes available in 2026
11 May 2026
There are lots of schemes available to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder. Let's take a look at what's available.
What is a Lifetime ISA?
23 April 2026
A Lifetime ISA is an ISA with benefits. You can save up to £4,000 a year with one and the government will chip in an extra 25%. That’s up to £1,000, for free.
How to maximise affordability when buying a new-build home
14 January 2026
Did you know a new build can be a far more affordable option than an older property?
What is Deposit Unlock?
5 January 2026
Keen to buy a new build home but struggling to get a deposit together? Deposit Unlock could be the scheme for you. Here’s everything you need to know.
The First Homes government scheme: half-price homes for first-time buyers
3 January 2026
If you're a local key worker who's struggling to step onto the property ladder, the government's First Homes scheme might just be the helping hand you've been waiting for.
What is New Build Boost and how does it compare to Help to Buy?
29 May 2025
Gen H have launched their New Build Boost mortgage scheme in an effort to make homeownership more accessible. The scheme is modelled on the previous Help to Buy scheme, but how does it compare?
What is Shared Ownership? Everything you need to know
30 January 2025
From how to buy a Shared Ownership property to increasing your share and then selling it, everything you need to know about Shared Ownership.
Help to Build: the government's self-build home scheme explained
29 January 2025
Not all Grand Designs have to blow an average homebuyer's budget. The Help to Build scheme aims to make it more affordable and easier to get a mortgage if you’re building a home yourself.
What is affordable housing?
27 January 2025
Affordable housing offers a subsidised route to home ownership through government schemes, or subsidised rents for people on low incomes.

Frequently asked questions

Current government-backed buying schemes include interest-free equity loans, shared ownership, an ISA that contributes a cash bonus, low deposit schemes and discounted mortgage rates. Some schemes are just for first-time buyers, while existing homeowners and social housing tenants can benefit from others.

Only Help to Buy Wales is still open. England’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme closed to new applicants on 31 October 2022, although the new Your First Home scheme will be similar. Scotland’s Help to Buy equity loan scheme closed to new applicants on 5 February 2021. Buyers can now use the New Supply Shared Equity scheme.

The Your First Home scheme will allow first-time buyers to combine a 2.5% deposit with a 20% equity loan. The home bought must be a new-build and be built by a participating housebuilder. Expect price and household income caps to apply, with more details to follow.

First Homes allows buyers in England to purchase some new-build homes for 30% to 50% less than their market value. The scheme is run by the government in partnership with local authorities and housebuilders.

There are three confirmed buying schemes exclusively for first-time buyers: First Homes, Scotland’s First Homes Fund and the Lifetime ISA. The Lifetime ISA replacement will be the First-Time Buyer ISA, due to start in 2028. The government recently announced the Your First Home scheme but it isn’t open to first-time buyers yet.

You need a deposit of 5% to be eligible for: First Homes, the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, New Build Boost, Own New Rate Reducer and Help to Buy Wales. Those buying a shared ownership home should check with their mortgage lender as to what deposit is required.

First Homes, New Build Boost, Own New Rate Reducer and Your First Home are buying schemes specifically for purchasing a new-build home. The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme and the Lifetime ISA can be used when buying brand new. Many shared ownership schemes also allow you to buy a share of a new-build property.

In England, the Right to Buy scheme allows tenants of council homes to buy their property at a heavily discounted rate. Discounts are worked out at whichever is lower: 70% of the value of a property or the maximum discount for a specific region. There are no equivalent Right to Buy schemes in Scotland or Wales.

Buying schemes across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland include equity loan schemes, shared ownership and a cash contribution for first-time buyers in Scotland.

Existing homeowners can use the Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, New Build Boost, Own New Rate Reducer and many of the UK’s shared ownership schemes. You won’t need to be a first-time buyer to qualify, giving more movers access to discounts and better mortgage deals.

Find the right home buying scheme for you

Why use a home buying scheme?

A lower price

Help with your deposit

Better access to mortgages

Schemes for first-time buyers only

First Homes

Lifetime ISA

First-Time Buyer ISA

Your First Home scheme

Schemes for first-time buyers and home movers

Shared Ownership

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme (also known as Freedom to Buy)

New Build Boost

Own New Rate Reducer

Looking for a Shared Ownership home?

Schemes for tenants

Right to Buy

Right to Acquire

Right to Shared Ownership

Rent to Buy

Find a new-build home

Schemes for specific groups

HOLD

Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO)

Forces Help to Buy

Can you use more than one buying scheme?

Schemes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

First Homes Fund

New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE)

Open Market Share Equity (OMSE)

Help to Buy Wales

Shared Ownership Wales

Homebuy Wales

Co-Ownership

Can you use a Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish scheme if you live in England?

Closed home buying schemes in the UK

How to choose a buying scheme

Latest news on buying schemes

Frequently asked questions

What government help can you get to buy a house in the UK?

Is the Help to Buy scheme still available?

What is the Your First Home scheme?

Do first-time buyers get 50% off a home?

Which buying schemes are only for first-time buyers?

Which buying schemes work with a 5% deposit?

Which buying schemes can you use to buy a new-build home?

Can you buy your council house at a discount?

What buying schemes are there in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Which buying schemes can home movers use?

Why use a home buying scheme?

A lower price

Help with your deposit

Better access to mortgages

First Homes

Lifetime ISA

First-Time Buyer ISA

Your First Home scheme

Shared Ownership

Mortgage Guarantee Scheme (also known as Freedom to Buy)

New Build Boost

Own New Rate Reducer

Looking for a Shared Ownership home?

Right to Buy

Right to Acquire

Right to Shared Ownership

Rent to Buy

Find a new-build home

HOLD

Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO)

Forces Help to Buy

Can you use more than one buying scheme?

First Homes Fund

New Supply Shared Equity (NSSE)

Open Market Share Equity (OMSE)

Help to Buy Wales

Shared Ownership Wales

Homebuy Wales

Co-Ownership

Can you use a Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish scheme if you live in England?